Translation guide
A dog trained to assist people with disabilities or special needs. In Japanese, the term varies depending on the type of assistance.
Referring to a dog trained to assist a person with a disability or special need, without specifying the type.
General term for a dog trained to assist people with physical disabilities. It is the most common and neutral term.
彼は介助犬と一緒に暮らしています。
He lives with a helper dog.
Broader term that includes guide dogs, hearing dogs, and service dogs. Often used in legal or official contexts.
補助犬の受け入れが義務付けられています。
Acceptance of helper dogs is mandated by law.
Specifically a dog trained to guide people who are blind or visually impaired.
The standard term for a guide dog for the blind. Widely recognized and used.
盲導犬は目の不自由な人を安全に導きます。
Guide dogs safely lead people with visual impairments.
A dog trained to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing to sounds.
The specific term for a hearing dog. Less common than 盲導犬 but the correct term.
聴導犬は耳の不自由な人に音を知らせます。
Hearing dogs alert people with hearing impairments to sounds.
A dog trained to perform tasks for people with physical disabilities other than blindness or deafness.
Specifically refers to dogs that assist with mobility, picking up objects, opening doors, etc. Note: this is the same word as the general term, but context clarifies the meaning.
介助犬は車椅子の人のために物を拾います。
Service dogs pick up items for people in wheelchairs.
介助犬 (kaijoken) is the most common term for a dog that helps with physical tasks. 補助犬 (hojoken) is a broader legal category that includes guide dogs, hearing dogs, and service dogs. In everyday conversation, 介助犬 is more natural unless you are referring to the legal framework.
この施設では補助犬の同伴が可能です。
Helper dogs are allowed in this facility.
The English loanword ヘルパードッグ (helper dog) is not commonly used in Japanese. Stick to the native terms above.